Page 6

Rhodes

T he day was bright and beautiful, directly contrasting with the storm of emotions brewing inside of me. Yet, I forced it all to calm as I walked through the hospital’s front entrance and tilted my face up to feel the sun’s warmth. It was one of my favourite feelings.

Growing up in and out of the hospital, never knowing if this was going to be it, the sun had become my safe place. My peace. A single ray could change the entire outcome of the day, altering my perspective from doom and gloom to warm and bright.

There was always something to be excited about, even if it was as small as noticing the gradient of colour on a single flower petal. Much like the one I was holding now. Jessica, my favourite nurse, had gifted it to me before I left. She’d plucked it from a patient’s wilting floral arrangement, noting how it was different from the others. Said it reminded her of me.

‘This one stood out from the rest. Where the other petals were wilting and dull, this one remained vibrant and full of life, even when cut from its roots and plucked from its bloom.’

My sigh was shaky as I thought over what needed to be done. I just had to get my ducks in a row before I could stop worrying and start living. First, my will. Then, my family. It wasn’t like I could tell anyone. Both of my parents were in nursing homes for dementia and Alzheimer’s. They were so far gone that they no longer remembered me anyway. It was better if I just left it alone. All I needed to do was ensure their medical bills and the care home fees were paid after I was gone, but that wouldn’t be an issue. A few phone calls, some signatures, and that was that.

I didn’t have much more than Jessica now, anyway. Sure, I had friends, but we weren’t super close. I already learned that bringing other people into my life when my survival wasn’t guaranteed was cruel. No one wanted to watch someone they cared about wither away into a shell of their former self before eventually taking their last breath. Terminal illnesses were painful for more than just the sick, and I’d been through this song and dance for what seemed like too many times to count. In reality, I’d gone into remission six times, each time more shocking than the last. I didn’t take a single moment for granted.

I supposed I was lucky, then, not to have anyone too close to me. I wouldn’t have to feel guilty for the decision I had just made, and I could live out the remainder of my days on this earth without a care in the world.

I inhaled deeply, tasting the sweetness of the air on the back of my tongue and filling my lungs with the life surrounding me. It was beautiful. Even the cars and the people milling around, rushing from one place to another as if they didn’t have the option of stopping and just being still. It was strange to me that everyone was so busy that they didn’t know how to just stop and simply be. Although I supposed it was a matter of perspective. I’d grown up knowing how precious and precarious life was. Most people did not.

My truck beeped when I pressed the button on the fob, all the lights flashing obnoxiously so there was no reason not to find it. It amused me how many people simply forgot where they’d parked their own damn car. It wasn’t like parking lots didn’t have identification markers or anything. I patted the hood before I opened the door and jumped in, then ran my hands lovingly over the fluffy pink cover on the wheel.

‘Well, Bessie, looks like you’re gonna need a new best friend soon. We should probably make some memories first, huh?’

I flicked the dreamcatcher hanging from the rearview mirror before tucking the flower petal in its web, then drove off, eager to enjoy the scenic ride home. Bessie had been with me since I was a teenager and was given the first all-clear by the docs. She’d been my first ever independent buy, and I’d loved her ever since. Bessie and me, we were meant to be. She was on her last dregs, too, so we were going to enjoy our last moments of this life together.

I was going to smell every last one of those damn roses everyone talked about. When I turned her off, of course. Bessie was many things, but eco-friendly she was not.

The drive home was long, winding, and typically peaceful, with very few cars on the road alongside me. This time, however, I ended up stuck behind a parade of vans and RVs. What intrigued me the most were the logos stamped and painted all over them. Northeast Paranormal Investigators. Huh. There had always been tales of ghost sightings and such, but no one had ever taken them seriously enough to come investigate before.

A smile spread, slow and excited. They could just be passing through, but if they were sticking around, this could be fun.

I followed them all the way down Highway 97, curious where they were headed. I was pleased when they pulled off onto the side road that led to the local campsite. Not just because it looked like things around here were about to get a hell of a lot more interesting, but because they were right in my backyard. My house sat a few miles up the road, but my family had owned this campsite for three generations. It was the perfect excuse to strike up a conversation, see what was going down.

I followed them in, feeling their suspicious eyes on me through their mirrors. But life was full of coincidences, and while I wasn’t sure I believed in fate, I certainly believed in luck. The entourage pulled up outside the service building where we held the front desk, some showers and other amenities, and a small café staffed by two staff, Fred, the old curmudgeonly chef, and yours truly.

I drove Bessie around them to my designated spot around the back of the building and gave the dreamcatcher one more flick before hopping out. Rounding the corner with my hands in my pockets, an easy smile on my face, I moved to greet my new customers. A tall man with dark, almost black hair that was in dire need of a cut approached, a scowl forming deep grooves between his brows. I tilted my head to the side to study him, something about him screaming familiarity, though I couldn’t place where I knew him from. I wasn’t one to follow paranormal investigators, so I knew it couldn’t have been from his job.

‘Who are you?’ he asked in a gruff voice, violence brimming in the tension of his admittedly large muscles. ‘Why are you following us?’

‘Calm down, Chance. He’s probably just a fan or something,’ a short, dark-skinned woman attempted to de-escalate as she jumped out of another RV, an equally short Latina woman hopping out the passenger side to join her.

‘Not a fan, sorry,’ I said, leaning casually against the side of the building.

‘Who the fuck are you, then? What do you want?’ the grumpy man demanded.

‘The name’s Rhodes.’

‘Like the campsite?’ the Latina woman asked.

I dipped my chin in acknowledgement. ‘Yup. I own the property. Didn’t mean to spook you fine folks. I was just coming back from an appointment and happened to be coming to the same place. How can I help you?’

Grumpy Man’s scowl deepened further, but he backed down when he realised I wasn’t a threat. I’d never met someone as high-strung as him before, and I wondered where the stick up his ass came from.

‘Sorry about him,’ the black woman stepped forward, offering her hand for me to shake, which I took. ‘I’m Ashe. The pretty Mexican lady is Gloria, and the surly one is Chance. Mikey’s in the last van, but he’s a bit shy.’

‘Nice to meet you. Why don’t you come on in, and I can get you set up?’

‘We reserved some spots online this morning. We’re just checking in.’

‘Right. Even better. If you’ll follow me, I’ll get you all checked in and set up.’

They followed me inside, and Fred popped his head out of the kitchen with a scowl even scarier than that Chance guy’s, though that was just his normal face. I waved at him and gestured to the small dining area we passed. ‘Coffee and food are served from nine to six, and we have a few vending machines around back if you’re hungry for a midnight snack. And don’t mind Fred. He’ll grunt at you, but he won’t bite.’

Mister Grumpy broke off from the women to head straight for the coffee bar, sharing a grunt with Fred, who responded in kind before handing over a mug of freshly brewed coffee, then gestured vaguely to the condiment bar.

‘Sorry about him,’ the black woman, Ashe, apologised sheepishly. ‘He’s a nice guy most days.’

‘Just not today, huh?’ I teased with a little smirk pulling up the right corner of my lips as I moved around to the other side of the counter and booted up the old laptop I’d been using for the past decade.

‘Today’s been a rough one. He’ll be all smiles tomorrow after some sleep, promise.’

‘Nah, he’s fine. We can’t all have good days.’ My smile felt a little more forced when I thought about the shit day I was having. It seemed to be a pandemic. When the laptop finally started, I pulled up their booking information, noting how they hadn’t written in a check-out date. ‘So, how long are you guys here for?’

‘We don’t know yet. We’re investigating the deaths along the highway, so however long it takes, I guess. I hope it’s not an issue.’

My brows rose in surprise. ‘Not at all. You’re welcome as long as you need. So, you’re here about the drownings, then?’

‘Yes. Well, more specifically, we’re investigating the sightings of a potential entity that may be responsible for the drownings.’

‘So what, you’re like, paranormal police?’

Ashe snorted a laugh while Gloria smiled but shook her head. ‘Not exactly. We’re mostly just here to record any paranormal activity. If we so happen to solve a murder at the same time, then so be it.’

‘You guys see a lot of ghosts and shit, then?’ I asked, printing out their parking permit and handing it over. ‘I’ve got you set up for a week. If you need to extend it, just come see me and I’ll print you a new pass.’

‘Thanks, Rhodes,’ Ashe smiled, and I shot her my famous panty-melting smile that showed off my dimples as I openly checked out both girls.

‘Anytime, ladies.’

They scrunched up their noses and laughed, but I didn’t take it to heart. It was clear they were together, so when Gloria pulled Ashe against her side possessively, I winked and leaned back in my chair, arms tucked behind my head so my shirt would ride up and show off my abs.

Ashe flashed her wedding ring at me with a smirk. ‘Sorry, kid. We’re married.’

‘Married doesn’t mean dead,’ I teased, earning a laugh from them both.

‘Oh, trust me. We’ve got no problems there.’

‘Stop hitting on my friends, kid,’ Chance said as he sidled up to them, to-go cup in hand.

‘What, didn’t get me one?’ Ashe asked, pointing to his drink.

‘You’re more than capable of getting your own coffee, lazy bones,’ he replied, a tender note in his voice that I wasn’t expecting.

‘Ah. I see. You’ve already got the meat for your sandwich.’

Ashe’s nose wrinkled in disgust as she blanched, but Gloria bellowed a laugh at the look on their faces. ‘He wishes.’

Chance frowned, his gaze darting between us. ‘I wish what now?’

‘I’m officially out of this conversation,’ Gloria informed us, pulling her wife with her as she left the building.

‘See you around, Rhodes,’ Ashe called over her shoulder before the door closed behind them.

I turned to the surly man glaring after his friends and handed him his pass. ‘Here. I’ve got you down for a week, but if you need to extend your stay, just let me know and I’ll get you another pass,’ I told him.

He took it, his expression closed off but polite. ‘Thanks.’

And then he was stalking out the door and climbing into his van, the door slamming shut behind him. I winced at the way he abused the poor vehicle. There was clearly something more going on with him that was making him so sour, but it wasn’t my business. Maybe I could lighten his mood, though. I had a spare paddleboard he could use for some leisurely time on the river. It might be nice to have some company the next time I went for a lazy drift.

I needed to go again, and soon. Nature was my escape, and I wanted to get as much time with it as possible while I still could.